Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the National Assembly’s police division, CSP Sulu-Gambari Abdul, has alleged that “there may have been internal conspiracy” in the widely condemned invasion of the Senate on April 18.
The DPO stated this during an investigative hearing into the matter by the joint Ad Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, yesterday.
He noted that what happened at the National Assembly was an act of internal conspiracy among some security agencies and some lawmakers. He said: “There should be a synergy between security agencies and the lawmakers, but in this case, the attack came from the roof as the senators are not helping security matters.
On April 16, there was an earlier hint that a group planned to invade the National Assembly and disrupt activities, which called for a build-up of security with two units of mobile police mobilised to the complex. “However, on April 18, at about 10; to 1100 hours, my attention was drawn to a group protesting at the gate, while I moved to address the group I was informed that some people were running away with the mace.
“I signalled all the entry points that nobody drives in or out but three men approached me identifying themselves as security operatives and requested to be allowed to go. The strain of blood on their clothes made me become suspicious and I ordered they be arrested.”
Continuing, he said: “In all, six people were arrested same day and handed over to the force headquarters alongside charms recovered from them. In addition, an unmarked Prado jeep and a Toyota Hilux were impounded and they are with the police. It was later that I observed that the protest was a diversionary attention to move me out and that the protesters were same group with those that attacked.” According to him, there was, however, no communication from the Sergeant-at-Arms, while the invasion lasted. Earlier, the Sergeant-at-Arms to the National Assembly, Brig.-Gen.
Brighton Danwalex (retd.), told the panel that report from investigation after the incident indicated that Senator Ali Ndume instructed his men, assigned to protect the mace, not to touch it during the invasion, adding that it was, however, wrong for them to take orders from the senator. Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Bala N’allah, requested the police to furnish it with a copy of station diary where entry of the crime was made. Other things demanded included the copy of crime routine diary, pictures of those arrested and the transfer register explaining where the invaders were transferred to.
